Truck body construction



Jul 19, 1960 Filed Oct. 8. 1957 D- W. CHANEY TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 19, 1960 D. w. CHANEY I 2,945,721

TRUCK BDDY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8. 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.pan/41 M fi/mns/ "Wil -Liza.

nited State Pa TRUCK BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8, 1957, Ser. No.688,933

1 Claim. (Cl. 296-28) The invention set forth herein relates to aconstruction of a truck dump body, a straight truck body or trucktrailers or semi-trailers. The invention specifically relates to theinterrelationship and interconnection of a side wall with the floor ofthe body.

Normally the side wall of a truck is set in a slight distance from theouter edge portionof the body so as to provide space for verticallydisposed stakes or ribs as reinforcing members along the side wallextending vertically thereof, and this construction heretofore has lefta flat so-called running board extending along the length of the body atthe lower ends of the reinforcing members. This provides a flat runningboard on which dirt and debris collects, requiring cleaning operationsfrequently particularly in trucking operations where dirt, gravel orother loose materials are to be hauled.

The present invention involves a unique construction of a side wallwherein the usual running board is replaced by a wall portion inclinedfrom the outer side and upwardly into a vertical side wall and the flooritself does not extend laterally under the side wall, but to thecontrary, is turned upwardly by an integral portion to merge into theside wall at an elevation above the level of the floor itself.

Not only does this construction promote normal discarding of materialsfalling onto the inclined wall portion, but also provides a strongerjunction between the side Wall and the floor and the cross beams of thebody.

One particular form of the invention is herein illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of asemi-trailer embodying the invention, in partial section;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal horizontal section on the line 22 inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view inside perspective.

A plurality of transversely aligned cross members or beams extending inthe usual manner across and are secured to a longitudinally disposedside rail 11, it being understood of course that there is a rail 11 oneach side of the body. The rail 11 in each instance is then mounted onthe semi-trailer chassis 12.

A body side generally designated by the numeral 13 has a major,vertically extending planar wall 14. This wall 14 merges at its lowerportion through an obtuse angle bend 15 to extend outwardly anddownwardly in a sloping manner through a wall portion 16 to a lower bend17 from which the member extends through a vertical section 18downwardly over the ends of the cross beams and thence thereunder by afoot 19. The distance between the bend 17 and the foot -19 issubstantially equal to the height of each of the cross beams 10 so thatthe cross beams may fit by their end portions substantially against thesection 18.

The wall 14 will normally be reinforced by means of vertically extendingstakes or posts 20 spaced at inter- 2,945,721 Patented July 19, 1960vals along the outside of the wall 14, these posts 20 having lower ends21 beveled to conform with the slope of the wall portion 16 so as to fitsnugly thereagainst and approximately the entire distance thereacross,to be welded thereto. The post 20 in each instance is likewise weldedalong its edge to the wall portion 14. In the present form, each ofthese posts 20 has a crosssectional shape approximately in the form of aV. Preferably the upper end of the wall portion 14 is formed to have alaterally, outwardly extending top panel 22 extending across the upperends of the posts 20 and thence downwardly by a lip 23. The lip 23 iswelded to each of the posts 20.

A gusset 24 herein shown in Fig. 3 as having a substantially diamondshape fits against the under, inner side of the inclined wall portion 16and also against the inner side of the vertical section 18, and ispositioned to lie against a cross member 10 and is welded not only tothe cross member, but also to the wall portions 16 and 18. The use ofthe gusset 24 may of course be had at each of the cross members 10, butif preferred, may be at selected ones only of those cross members. Thepurpose of course of the use of the gusset 24 is to reinforce the sidewall to resist bending along the bend 17 and also to secure the sidewall to the cross member 10, in addition to the weld between the foot 19and the cross members on the under sides thereof.

The floor of the body constitutes a sheet of metal 25 resting on thecross members 10, and at the longitudinal sides thereof extends upwardlyby a substantially vertically disposed flange 26. This flange 26 extendsvertically from the cross members 10 a distance sufficiently to reachthe bend 1-5 of the side wall 14, and is welded to the side wall to formin effect an integral part therewith. The floor 25 is fixed to the crossbeams or members 10 by any suitable means such as by welding, so thatthe upturned flange 26 cooperates with the side wall 14 to maintain thatwall in its vertical alignment and in rigidly fixed position not onlyrelative to the cross members 10, but also to the floor 25.

Thus it is to be seen that an inclined wall portion 16 is providedthroughout the length of the side of the body, and at the same time avery rigid and durable construction is had between the side wall 14 andthe floor 25. It is to be understood of course that the construction asshown in Fig. 3 and as above described is repeated on the opposite sideof the truck body as would be understood by those versed in the art. Thegusset 24 may of course be varied in area to extend entirely inwardlyfrom the vertical section 18 of the side wall 14 to the floor flange 26if so desired.

Therefore while the invention as herein shown has been described in theone particular form in minute defixed on top sides of said cross membersand terminating.

short of the ends of said cross members; a flange along each side edgeof said floor turned upwardly and vertically therefrom a distance; aside wall extending upwardly from and joined to an upper edge portion ofsaid flange in each instance; an inclined planar wall joined by itsupper edge portion to and along said wall and flange at said flangeupper edge portion and sloping therefrom outwardly and downwardly to andfixed to the outer ends of said cross members, said inclined wallmerging through a bend into a portion extending downwardly across theends of said cross members, and thence around thereunder by a foot fixedto those cross mem bers; a plurality of straight line, verticallydisposed, and horizontally spaced apart posts located along and fixedtothe outer side of each side wall, and-bearing by lower" ends on andfixed to said inclined wall above its said downwardly extending portion;and a gusset under said inclined wall across said bend and along saidcro'ss member ends and fixed to the inclined wall, said Wall portion,

and a cross member end portion, resisting bending in said bend.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (US.Corresponding 2,886,374 filed May 12, 1959)

